Thrombin is one of the main components involved in the blood coagulation process. Thanks to him, a blood clot forms in the wound, which stops bleeding and does not allow the body to lose a lot of blood. The clotting process itself is quite complicated, therefore, the work of this clotting factor should be considered in more detail. This will allow a better understanding of the mechanism of wound healing.
What is thrombin
A whole group of factors contributing to the process itself takes part in blood clotting in case of injury. This is thrombin, which is obtained from the pro-substance of prothrombin under the action of a special enzyme thromboplastin, this is a plasma protein fibrinogen, which turns into fibrin. The interaction of these substances with each other produces as a result a blood clot that clogs the wound and stops the blood.
Thrombin is, first of all, an enzyme, an active substance that catalyzes (that is, accelerates) a chemical process in the body. When there is no injury in the body, thrombinis in the blood plasma in the form of a chemically inactive substance prothrombin.
After the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, fibrinogen in plasma passes from its soluble form to an insoluble one. The insoluble form of fibrinogen is the main part of the thrombus that clogs the injured vessel. The insoluble form of fibrinogen is called fibrin, while thrombin is an intermediate component that contributes to the fastest transition from one form to another.
The process of education in the body
After the platelets in the blood are destroyed under the influence of traumatic factors, the enzyme thromboplastin is released from them. It is under the action of this enzyme that thrombin is formed from an inactive form. This way of activating blood clotting is called extravascular and works only in case of injury.
But a certain amount of clotting factors is always present in the blood, and not only if the integrity of the vessel is broken. The path that clotting takes in this case is called vascular, it starts on the inside of the vessel through the activation of the so-called Hageman factor.
The release of any of these factors triggers a whole cascade of biochemical reactions involving enzymes that start the clotting process in a matter of seconds. Due to the fact that enzyme substances are mainly involved in these biochemical reactions, the reactions are called proteolytic.
Functions in progress
Since thrombin is an enzyme, its functions,like most other proteolytic substances, they consist in activating and accelerating various reactions within the body. This enzyme only works as part of the blood clotting process.
Lack or lack of enzymes needed for clotting leads to difficulty in stopping bleeding. Violation of such a plan is called "hemophilia" and is transmitted genetically. Problems with a lack of proteolytic substances and blood clotting disorders can lead not only to disability, but also to death. Children and people undergoing surgery are especially at risk.
Medical use
Thrombin is used in medicine for its intended purpose: in the composition of agents that promote blood clotting and stop bleeding. Such funds can be useful both for surgeons during an operation, where possible blood loss in a patient should be carefully monitored, and for doctors of other speci alties, for example, dentists, resuscitators.
Thrombin in the form of medical preparations is produced as a white powder in vials or ampoules, which is subsequently dissolved in saline and applied topically. This is done by soaking a gauze swab from a sterile syringe with a solution. It is forbidden to inject it into a vein or muscle, as this causes numerous thrombosis.
The most common styptic tampons or sponges are used during operations, andalso placed in the wound. Sponges come in a variety of sizes, from large items for large vessel surgeries to small cubes used in dental practice.
Control
In some cases, the amount of thrombin in the body can increase, which leads to a condition, the opposite of hemophilia - increased blood clotting. Excessive formation of blood clots can lead to thromboembolism - blockage of blood vessels by blood clots. In some cases, this can lead to severe he alth problems, and sometimes death. Therefore, a patient at risk of increased thrombosis should be regularly tested for the presence of thrombogenic factors. Special medications help control their number. In particularly severe cases, the patient is hospitalized and treated with blood thinners.
